Launch event for NextGrid: Illinois’ Utility of the Future Study held in Chicago

The facilitators of a study that explores what the future of Illinois’ electric grid might look like held a launch event for the study this week at the University of Illinois Forum in Chicago.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Ameren Illinois, ComEd and the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Illinois (UIUC/ECE), the NextGrid lead facilitator, will host the event to mark the beginning of the NextGrid: Illinois’ Utility of the Future Study.

The study will examine developing technologies, such as distributed generation and storage, demand response, energy efficiency, interconnected smart devices and appliances, microgrids, electric vehicles, data, and analytics. It will also cover opportunities for advancement such as fully integrating renewables and large-scale energy storage and leveraging data collected from smart technologies.

“Innovations in technology, energy efficiency and the push for renewables, like wind and solar, are putting a mandate on states to re-evaluate and modernize the electric grid,” ICC Chairman Brien J. Sheahan said. “Illinois is among the states leading the charge, initiating NextGrid, an 18-month consumer-focused collaborative study to transform Illinois’ energy landscape and economy.”

The launch event included presentations by ICC Chairman Brien Sheahan and the team of UIUC/ECE lead facilitators and will feature panels and speeches from energy industry leaders from Illinois and across the United States. Robert F. Powelson, Commissioner with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), will keynote the event.

Throughout the duration of the study, seven working groups will meet regularly to discuss a range of topics. Under the management of the ICC, the UIUC/ECE facilitator team will use the information and recommendations from the working groups to compile the NextGrid final report.

“Expanding customer energy choices to keep costs competitive and affordable, and the potential for communities and customers to generate, store and redistribute power back into the grid, will all be a part of the discussion,” Sheahan said. “We encourage public participation and comment during the NextGrid study and invite all those interested to attend the launch.”